Published 19 July 2024
Residents are being reminded to purchase a permit if they want to continue to get their garden waste uplifted after August 12th.
From that date, only brown bins with a valid permit and which contain garden waste, will be collected. Brown bins with only food waste will be uplifted all year round regardless of whether there is a valid permit or not.
The cost of a permit which will cover the period between 12th August and 30th November 2024 is £26 and residents can purchase this now online at www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/garden-waste. If anyone is unable to complete this online, they can call the Council on 01389 738282.
From next year, a permit which will be valid from April until November will cost £60.
The permit, in the form of a sticker clearly marking which address it belongs to, will be mailed out to those who sign up and should be displayed on brown bins. Clear instructions will be provided on the permit itself on how it should be affixed.
Residents who do not want to sign up for a garden waste permit can still use the brown bin to dispose of food waste.
In March, Council made the decision to implement this service change. This brings West Dunbartonshire in line with a number of other Scottish Councils with the majority already charging for the uplift of garden waste.
Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor David McBride, said: “I would encourage anyone who wants to continue to get their garden waste uplifted from August 12th to apply for a permit straight away.
“There has already been significant uptake ahead of the implementation date when those presenting brown bins containing garden waste without a valid permit will not have this emptied.
“Council tax does not cover a statutory collection of garden waste and, up until this point, we provided this free of charge. Food waste, which is covered by Council tax, will continue to be collected by our dedicated crews all year round. We have held off introducing this charge for a few years and are reluctantly doing so to allow the service to continue for those who opt it. Otherwise, the service would face being scrapped.”
Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, added: “This Council faced a £17million budget shortfall for 2024/25, and an increase in landfill tax rates by the Scottish Government this year. The introduction of this charge, with the backdrop of those financial challenges, allows us to protect frontline services and jobs where possible.
“It is important for residents who wish to sign up to do so as soon as they can so they benefit from the maximum number of uplifts this year.”
More information including updated Frequently Asked Questions can be accessed at www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/garden-waste where residents will also be able to sign up to the scheme.